Motor for sheep shearing devices



June 22, 1943. V. A. wlLcox 2,322,610

y MOTOR FOR SHEEP SHEARING DEVICES I Filed March 1e, 1940 s sheets-sheep 1 ATTORNEY June 22, 1943.` v. A. w|| ox 2,322,610

MOTOR FOR SHEEP SHEARING DEVICES.

Filed March 16, 1940 f5 Sheets-Sheet 2 |N`vEN1'oR Vince/*1f A. W//cox 1 BY .7m m.

ATTORNY June 22, l1943.. v. A. WILCOX 2,322,610

MOTOR FOR SHEEP SHEARING DEVICES Filed March 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RNEY Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR FOR SHEEP SHEARING DEVICES vincent A. Wilcox, Modesto, Calif., assignor to The Pneumatic Shear Company, Turlock, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 16, 1940, Serial No. 324,352

6 Claims.

The invention relates to devices for shearing of sheep or other animals and more particularly to a pneumatic motor mechanism for driving the movable cutter member of the shears.

An object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic sheep shear motor` of the character described having a main reciprocating engine piston operated by air pressure in conjunction with an air valve and operating mechanism therefor for periodically reversing the air pressure differential in the main engine cylinder and wherein the valve mechanism is arranged to operate in an almost instantaneous fashion whereby the air passages leading to the opposite end of the mam engine cylinder remain fully open and `deliver full power throughout substantially the entire stroke of the piston in both of its reciprocal directions.

Another object of the invention is to providea pneumatic sheep shear motor of the character above wherein the valve mechanism is so arranged and operated as to positively prevent sticking or jamming of the cutter members in the eece of the animal being sheared.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic sheep shear motor of the character' described which'will be constructed of a minimum number of sturdily formed parts which will last and give positive and foolproof operation for a substantially unlimited length of time and which will provide for. a motor having improved operating efficiency.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a pneumatic sheep shear device of the character abovewhich will remain cool under all operating loads and duration of such loads and which will keep the cutter members of the shears cool, clean, and lubricated.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferredform of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part ofthe specication. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings: c

l Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sheep shearing device constructed in accordance with therpresent invention, y Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the device illustrated inFigure 1.-` j Figure 3 is a longitudinal plan sectional View showing the pneumatic motor and valve mechanism of the device.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 and is taken at right angles to the plane of Figure 3 as indicated by the plane of line Vd--II of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of a part of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 and is taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is .a vertical sectional view taken through the main engine cylinderand the valve engine cylinder at a portion of the mechanism indicated by the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a diagrammaticcross-sectional View of the main engine cylinder and the corresponding position of the valve.

Figure 8. isA a diagrammatic cross-sectional View similar to Figure 7 but'showing a different position of the parts.

A sheep shearing device of the type to which the present invention relates consists essentially of a shearing head consisting of stationary and `movable cutter members. which engage in and shear 01T the fleece, and a pneumatic motor mechanism which is operatively connected 'to a'source of air or other fluid under pressure and ywhich is operatively connected to the movable cutter member for displacing and oscillating the latter across the fixed cutter member. More specifically the present invention relates to the pneu- .matic motor mechanism of the shearing device.

As depicted inthe accompanying drawings, the sheep shearingdevice consistsof an elongated body II which may be formed of one or a plurality of joined members land which serves as a housing and support for the several operating parts of the 4shearing device. The cutter head is arranged in va conventional manner adjacent one end AI2 of the body and includes a stationary toothed member I3 and a movable toothed cutter bar Ill which overlies and slides across the face of the member I3 to provide a Ashearing of fleece engaged in the teeth. The movable cutter'member is mounted at the forward end of a lever I6 which extends longitudinally into a longitudinal hollow or bore I1 in the body and the lever is pivoted on a fulcrum screw I8 adjacent its forward end and held in place by a universally pivoted rod I9 located forwardly of its fulcrum and adjustably carried by a screw cap 2| on the body. The rear end 22 of the lever extends through the interior I1 of the body and is operatively connected to the main reciprocating engine piston of the pneumatic motor.` As

aforementioned, the above-described cutter structure is more or less conventional in the art.

The pneumatic motor mechanism of the present invention is positioned adjacent the opposite end 23 of the body Il and preferably a portion of the body which houses the motor mechanism is formed as a separate section 24 from a forwardly extending section 26 of the body carrying the cutter head, and the two sections telescopically joined, as illustrated at the top portions of Figures 3 and 4. The sections so joined may be held against endwise displacement by means of a set-screw 21. The section 24 adjacent its free end 23 is provided with an internal longitudinal bore 28, see Figures 3 and 4, which extends centrally and longitudinally of the body and opens to the lower en-d 23 of the body. Fitted within this bore is a valve sleeve 29 'which at its outer end 3| is formed with an enlarged head portion which seats against the end face u of the body and is internally threaded for the receipt of an air fitting plug 32, the latter in the present instance having a cylindrical portion 33 projecting axially into the space dened by the sleeve 29. A cylindrical valve member 34 is slidably sued for rotation within the sleeve 29 and is formed with an end bore 36 dening a hollow interior for the member and which surrounds the cylindrical projecting part 33 of the plug 32, whereby air from a pressure source is delivered through the interior passage 31 of the plug into the hollow interior 36 of the rotary valve member.

' Arranged in the body section 24 forwardly of the cylinder 28 and at substantially right angles thereto'is the main engine cylinder 38 of the pneumatic motor. As here shown, the cylinder 36 extends completely through the transverse dimension of the body section which is expanded transversely at the cylinder to obtain sumcient cylinder length and is closed at its opposite ends 39 and 4I by means of `sealing gaskets 42 and 43,V here held in place by threaded rings 44 and 46 secured to the body. Mounted within the interior of the cylinder '38 is a reciprocating piston 4:1 which is preferably formed with a pair of pis- 'ton heads 48 and 49 adjacent the opposite ends ofthe piston and with a circumferential groove l, dened between annular shoulders 52 and v53, at the center of the piston,`arranged to receive .the rear end 22 of the operating lever I6 for the movable cutter bar In this manner reciprocal movement of the piston 41 is translated into an oscillatory movement of the operating lever I6 for the movable cutter.

'I'he valve member 134 is so designed an-d arranged that upon oscillation, the same will communicate the opposite ends 39 and 4I of vthe cylinder 38 alternately to the `pressure source so as to produce a reciprocation of the piston 41. This is here effected by providing in the body section 24 a pair of air passages '54 and 56 which extend from the opposite ends 39 and 4l of the cylinder l38 to spaced parts of the periphery of the sleeve 29 and which there register with peripherally spaced slots `51 and 58 in the sleeve.

AThe valve'membe'r is formed with a pair of peripherally-spaced slots 59 and 6|, see Figures .'1 and 8, which extend from the hollow interior 36 of the valve to the outer periphery thereof for. ,registration with the s 'lots 51 and .58 in the sleeve upon appropriate rotational positioning of the member. Provided also inthe periphery ofthe valve member are longitudinal exhaust slots 6.2

and63 which are spaced periphera-lly from 'the slots 59 and 6I, as illustrated in Figures '1 and 8, and which are adapted to -alternately register with one of the sleeve slots 51 and 58 upon oscillation of the valve for conducting the exhaust air longitudinally through the slots 62 and 63 and into and through the open center portion of the piston and thence out through the hollow interior l1 of the body. The valve member is oscillated between two rotated positions illustrated in Figures '1 and 8. In Figure '1 the hollow interior of the valve is communicated by way of the valve slot 59 and the sleeve slot 51 with the passage 54 leading to the end 39 of the engine cylinder, whereas the opposite end 4l of the cylinder is communicated by way of passage 56 to the sleeve slot 56 which is in registration with the exhaust groove 63, whereby the air pressure differential in the cylinder 38 as Viewed in Figure 7 is from left to right, producing a corresponding movement of the piston 41. From this position, the valve is rotated in a clockwise direction to a position illustrated in Figure 8 wherein the cylinder passages 54 and 56are reversely connected to the air pressure source and the exhaust passage. In the position illustrated in Figure 8 the air flow is from the interior 36 of the valve through the valve slot 6I, the sleeve slot 58 and the cylinder passage 56 to the head end 4| of the engine cylinder 38, and air is returned from the opposite end 39 of the cylinder by way of passage 54, sleeve slot 51 and exhaust groove 62, thereby causing a reversal in movement of the engine piston 41. f

In accordance with the ypresent invention, this oscillation of the valve member between the two positions enumerated is adapted to take place rapidly so that there is a substantially immediate and full registration of the several passages and a full delivery of power to the engine piston for substantially its entire stroke. The movement of the valve member is here controlled by a separate pneumatic cylinder 64 and reciprocating piston 66 which receives its operating air from the engine cylinder 38 in timed relation to the movement of the piston 41 and which is operatively connected to the valve member. As here shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 8, the cylinder 64 is formed in the body section 24 adjacent and substantially parallel to the cylinder 38 and -is also Vpreferably extended completely through the transverse dimension of the section and is closed at its opposite ends by threaded 4plugs 61 and 68. These plugs may vin turn carry set-screws 69 and 1 I, see Figure '1, for defining the ends of reciprocal movement of the piston 66. The communication between the'c'ylinder 64 andthe cylinder '3B is eiected by means of slots 12 and 13 which open into the cylinder'64 adjacent the opposite ends of rmovement of the piston 66 and into -the cylinder 3 8 adjacent the inwardly displaced positions of the piston heads 48`^and 49. In this manner the piston heads 48 and 49 cover and uncover the passages 12 and 'i3 during the reciprocal movement of the piston 41 and thus shut off or communicate the opposite ends of cylinder 64 with the pressure source and the atmosphere in an alternate manner to produce a reciprocation of the piston 66. In accordance with the present arrangement, the movement of the 'piston 66 while dependent upon and synchronous with the movement of piston 41, is out of phase with the movement of the latter piston. Thus Awith `reference to Figures 7 vand A8, the movement ofthe until after the piston 41 reaches lalmost the end of its stroke when the piston head 49 uncovers the slot 13 to release air under pressure into the right-hand end of cylinder 64. As soon as slot 13 is uncovered piston 66 is abruptly thrown to the left and this movement of the piston 66 is utilized to throw the valve member to its opposite position, as illustrated in Figure 8, to thereby reverse the flow of air into the main engine cylinder, admitting compressed air into the left end of cylinder 38 and venting the air from the right ends of cylinders 38 and 64. The piston 66 then remains in its left position, as illustrated in Figure 7, until after piston 41 has substantially completed its movement to the right when pistonhead 48 uncovers slot 12 which causes an abrupt and rapid movement of piston 66 to the right, which in turn restores the valve member to the position illustrated in Figure 7.

The operative connection between the valve member 34 and the piston 66 here includes van arm 14, see Figures 3 and 4, and 5, 7 and 8, which is secured to the inner end 16 of the valve member 34 for rotation with the member and extends radially from such end through a slot 11 formed in the sleeve 29 and through an opening 18 in the body section leading to the central portion of the cylinder 64. The outer end 19 of the arm is preferably curved laterally, as illustrated in Figure 4, and extended into engagement between a pair of annular shoulders 8| and 82 on the piston 66 defining a central circumferential groove 83, see Figures '1 and 8. Thus upon reciprocation of the piston 66 the arm and attached valve member will be rocked or oscillated between the positions of the valve aforementioned. The connection of the arm 14 to the end of the valve member is here effected by seating a circular hub portion 84 of the arm into a circular recess 86 in the end face of the valve member and engaging the radial part of the,v arm in a radial recess 81 in the valve and face, the arm being held in place against longitudinal movement by means of a pin 88 extending axially through the inner sleeve end 89, see Figures 3 and 4. The pin 88 is preferably threaded through the sleeve end to permit longitudinal adjustment of its position to take up for any wear and also the pin serves as a thrust bearing for the valve, thus minimizing the 7 latters frictional resistance to rotation. Preferably the end Wall 89 of the sleeve is perforated, as shown in Figure 3, so as to permit the ilow of air therethrough from the exhaust slots 62` and 63 of the valve member.

Preferably no special exhaust provision is provided the opposite ends of the cylinder 64 other than theslots 12 and 13 so that a temporary compression of air is effected in the ends of the cylinder during the reciprocal movement of the piston 66 and which compressionprovides an air cushion for the opposite ends of the piston safeguarding the piston against direct contact with the pins 69 and 1|. Likewise during the opera- '.tion of the motor, the reversel of the valve is effected with a sufcient rate of speed so as to interject air under vpressure into the opposite ends of the engine cylinder prior to the complete movement of the piston whereby van air cushion is provided at the opposite ends of piston 41 safe-guardingA the ends of this piston against direct endwise collision with the end walls of the cylinder. H Y

Preferably, manually controlled means is provided for 'controllingthe movement of the valve member and its operating piston for placing the device into and out of operation. This means consists of a slide member 9|, here in the form of anV elongated bar slidably attached to the body section by a plate 92 in parallelism with cylinder 64, and which is adapted to engage, and on movement displace, the arm 14. As here best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the Wall 93 of the cylinder 64 is formed with a longitudinal slot of a length somewhat greater than the length of movement of the arm 14 thereat and the member 9| is slidably fitted into this slot and held in position by the plate 92. The length of the member 9| is suicient to constantly cover and seal the slot during movement of the member by a distance corresponding to the travel of the arm 14. Formed in the inner face .94 of the member is a slotted recess engaging over the arm 14 and providing a pair of longitudinally spaced shoulders 96 and 91 which upon movement of the member abut and displace the arm. The longitudinal spacing of the shoulders is as great as the length of travel of the arm 14 so that in a central position of the member the arm is free to oscillate in accordance with the operation of the device as above explained. The member 9| may, however, be displaced to position the arm in the center of its course of movement in which case the valve will be moved to a neutral position cutting off air flow to either end of the engine cylinder. If by chance in the handling of the device during its inoperative period, the valve and piston should move to this neutral position, the operator may, after applying the air pressure, start the motor by moving the slide member to displace the valve to one of its operative positions and then restoring the slide member to a central position to permit oscillation of the valve, arm and connected piston.

Preferably, means is provided for holding the slide member 9| in its neutral center position and in endwise displaced positions corresponding to a neutral center position of the arm 14. As here shown, the rear face 98 is provided with an indentation 99, located midway of the length of the bar, which is engaged by a spring detent member |03 to locate and hold the bar in central position. The detent member is here slidably carried by the plate 92 to engage the rear face 98 of the slide member. As here shown, the, detent member |03 is slidably carried in a bore |06 opening to therear face of the slide member and is pressed against the slide member by' .means of a spring |04 carried in the bore |06 and compressed between the detent |03 and a closure screw |01. The end positions of the slide member are determined by the engagement of laterally bent ends |0| and |02 of the bar with the opposite sides of the plate.

One of the important features in the present construction is the exhausting of the spent air through the interior of the clipper body and out over the cutter head. This air discharge keeps the cutter body and the cutter head cool during all operating conditions, Whereas without the cooling effect of the air, the cutter members may become heated to a suicient temperature tocause loss of temper, The air owing over the cutter teeth also keeps the cutter members clean and free from cut wool.l In addition I prefer to run the air line through a bath of lubricating oil s othat sufficient oil will be contained @ne of the imperiali features 0i the present design is the previstos of a hOllQw rotary valt@ member and Positioning, 'ef this member in alignment With'the air inlet passage. By reason Qfthis arrangement the valve is relieved of all radial thrust against its sleeve due to the air pressure. present, and thus a minimum frictionavl resistance to movementl of the valve is encountered.

As will be further understood, the pneumatic motor of the present device is extremely simple and sturdy in construction, entaivling only four Working parts, viz. the rotary valve, the engine piston, the valve piston and the connecting arms for the valve piston and valve. This simplified construction renders the clipper mechanism highly efficient and capable of long and continu- OllS 11S@- I claim:

1. A pneumatic sheep shear motor comprising, an elongated body having an air inlet passage centrally at one end thereof adaptedl for connection to a source/of air under pressure, an axially extending valve cylinder at said end connected to said passage, a hollow cylindrical valve member rotatably mounted in said cylinder andy having the interior thereof communicated with said passage, a main engine cylinder transverse to the length of said body, a piston reciprocally mounted therein and adapted for connection to the movable cutter bar of the shear, a third cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted therein,l means connecting said second piston with said valve member to provide an oscillation'of the valve member upon reciprocation of said second piston, and air passage means including ports in said valve member and said cylinders and connecting said cylinders to provide upon oscillation of said valve member for the communication of said source to the opposite ends of said main engine cylinder in an alternate manner and to provide for the movement of said second piston byair received from said main enginey cylinder inout of phase relation to the movement of said first piston 2, A pneumatic sheep shear motor comprising, an elongated'body having an air inlet passage centrally at one end thereof adapted for connection to a source of air under pressure and formed'with a cylinder coaxial with said passage, al hollow rotary valve member mounted for rotation in said cylinder with the interior thereof,v in connection with said passage, said body being formed with aA second cylinder transverse to the length thereof, a piston reciprocally mounted in said secondcylinder and formed for connection to the movable cutter bar4 of the shear, said body being formed With a third cylinder, a second piston reciprocallyv mountedVi-n said third cylinder, said body having passages communicating said first and second cylinders and said valve member having circumferentially spaced passages adapted upon oscillation ofy said valve member to register with said first passages-to alternately connect said source to the opposite ends of said second 'cylinder to reciprocate said rst piston, saidl body havingpassages connecting said second and third cylinders which are covered and uncovered by said first piston and connected to the'oppositey ends of said thirdcylinderfor producing a reciprocation of vsaid second piston in timed relation to said rst piston, and means connecting said secadagio ond piston with said valve member to oscillate the latter upon reciprocation of the former.

3. A pneumatic sheep shear motor comprising, an elongated body having an air. inlet passage axially at one end thereof adapted for connection to a source of air under pressure, an axially extending cylinder formed in said body coaxial With said passage and communicated at one end to said passage, a hollow cylindrical valve member rotatably mounted in said cylinder and being open at one end thereof adjacent said passage to communicate the latter with the interior of said member, av second cylinder formed in said body transversely toI the length thereof with its axis at substantially right angles to the axis of said rst cylinder, air passages insaid body leading from the periphery of said rst cylinder to said second cylinder adjacent the opposite longitudinal ends thereof, a piston reciprocally mounted in said second cylin der and adapted for connection to the movable cutter bar of the shear, said valve meni-` ber having openings in the periphery thereofI adapted upon oscillation of said member to al,- ternately register with said passages for causing a reciprocation of said piston, a third cylinder arranged in substantially parallel relation to said second cylinder and adjacent one end of said first cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said third cylinder, passage means connecting the opposite ends of said third cylinder with longitudinally spaced portions of said' second cylinder which are covered and uncovered in said second cylinder by the piston therein whereby air under pressure is passed from said second cylinder to said rst cylinder to cause a reciprocation of said second piston inb timed out of phase relation to the movement of said first piston, and an arm connected to one end of said valve member and to saidv second piston for providing an oscillation of the valve member upon reciprocation of said second piston.

4. A pneumatic sheep shear motor comprising, a body providing a plurality of cylinders, a

piston reciprocally mounted in one of said cylinders and formed for connection to the Inovable cutter bar of the shear, a cylindrical valve member mounted for rotation in another of said cylinders and formed. with passages adapted for connection to a source of air under pressure'and to the opposite ends of said iirst cylinder and .arranged on oscillation of said member to alternately connect said source to said cylinder ends, a second piston mounted for reciprocationvin another of said cylinders, said last named cyl- 1 inder being connected to. said first cylinder for receiptof air therefrom in a manner providing a related movementv of said pistons, a member secured to said valve1 member for rotation therewith and connected to. said second piston to pro,- duce an oscillation of said valveV memberv upon reciprocation of said second. piston, and manu: ally displaceable means carried by said body and engageable with said last named member for manually displacing said second piston and Vconnected valve member to the opposite ends o their movement.

5. A pneumatic sheep shear motor compris.- ing, an elongated Vbody having an air inlet pas,- sage adjacent one end thereof adapted for connection to a source of air under pressure, a cyl inder formed in said body coaxial withA said passage and communcatedat one end tov said passage, a hollow cylindrical valve member-ro,- tatably mounted said cylinder and beine. onen at one end thereof adjacent said passage to communicate the latter with the interior of said member, a second cylinder formed in said body and having its axis at substantially right angles to the axis of said i'lrst cylinder, air passages in said body leading from the periphery of said rst cylinder to said second cylinder adjacent the opposite longitudinal ends thereof, a piston reciprocally mounted in said second cylinder and adapted for connection to the movable cutter bar of the shear, said valve member having openings in the periphery thereof adapted upon oscillation of said member to alternately register with said passages for causing a reciprocation of said piston, a third cylinder arranged in substantially parallel relation to said second cylinder and adjacent to one end of said first cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said third cylinder, passage means connecting the opposite ends of said third cylinder with longitudinally spaced portions of said second cylinder which are covered and uncovered in said second cylinder by thepiston therein whereby air under pressure is passed from said second cylinder to said first cylinder to cause 'a reciprocation of said second piston in time out of phase relation to the movement of said first piston, an arm connected to one end of said valve member and to said second piston for providing an oscillation of the valve member upon reciprocation of said second piston, and manually displaceable means carried by said body and engageable with said arm for displacing said second piston to the opposite ends of its stroke.

6. A pneumatic sheep shear motor comprising, an elongated hollow body` having an air inlet passage axially at one end thereof and adapted for connection to the movable and stationary cutter members of the shear adjacent the opposite end thereof, said bodybeing formed with a longitudinally extending cylinder adjacent said rst end in coaxial alignment with said passage and communicating at one end to said passage, a hollow cylindrical valve member rotatably mounted in said cylinder and having the hollow interior thereof communicated with said air inlet passage, a second cylinder arranged transversely of said body at substantially right angles to said rst cylinder and intersecting the hollow interior of said body, a piston reciprocally mounted in said second cylinder and adapted for connection through the hollow in said body to the movable cutter member of the shears, air passage means connecting the opposite ends of said second cylinder with the periphery of said rst cylinder and coacting with circumferentially spaced ports in the valve member for providing a passage of air under pressure from the interior of said valve member to the opposite ends of said second cylinder in an. alternate manner upon oscillation of said valve member to reciprocate said piston, a third cylinder ar ranged transversely across said body adjacent the interior end of said i'lrst cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said third cylinder, air passage means connecting the opposite ends of said third cylinder with longitudinally spaced portions of said second cylinder for causing a reciprocal movement of air and said third piston in said third cylinder upon reciprocation of said first piston, means connecting said second piston with said valve member to oscillate the latter upon reciprocation of the former, and air Y exhaust means connecting said third cylinder with the hollow interior of said body for discharging air from said third cylinder longitudinally through said body and over said cutter members.

VINCENT A. WILCOX. 

